Riders to be allowed to move between lanes

COME early next year you will be able to filter through lanes without the fear of flashing police lights.

Following consultation with riders, motorists and road safety groups, the government has decided to make changes to the laws which surround motorcycle riding in Queensland.

From about February next year, or as soon as the Governor-in-Council signs off on the changes, motorcyclists will be able to move around stationary or slow moving vehicles, as long as they are travelling less than 30 kilometres an hour.

The act of lane filtering, which is different to lane splitting, is not illegal itself, but the current rules around it which include: a motorcyclist moving out of a marked lane; crossing a white edge line; overtaking from the left; not indicating and not leaving a safe distance, often meant bikers broke a rule while performing it.

A trial in New South Wales found lane filtering could help ease traffic congestion and Transport Minister Scott Emerson agreed it should be rolled out in Queensland.